Revise Parts 74, 78, 101 Rules

Recommendation #37

FCC Chapter: 5.9

Status: In progress

The Federal Communications Commission should revise Parts 74, 78 and 101 of its rules to allow for increased spectrum sharing among compatible point-to-point microwave services.

The FCC should commence a proceeding to examine Parts 74, 78 and 101 of its rules and opportunities to increase sharing of spectrum bands currently used for Mobile Broadcast Auxiliary Service (BAS) and Mobile Cable TV Relay Service (CARS) with microwave services. Such sharing appears feasible as BAS and CARS have started to migrate to Internet protocol (IP)-based communications, making the traffic that is carried on these links fundamentally the same as that on common carrier microwave links. Increased sharing would have the practical effect of increasing the supply of backhaul-suitable spectrum in the prime frequencies below 12 GHz.

In the course of this review, the FCC should consider making below-1 GHz "white spaces" spectrum available for backhaul in very rural areas where it otherwise may go unused, to the extent that such use is consistent with Reallocate Broadcast Television Spectrum and the ongoing white spaces proceeding.